Suicide Awareness/Screening Programs

Youth Mental Health First Aid

• Designed for adults who regularly interact with young people

• Focus is on how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.

• Eight (8) hour program

Youth Mental Health First Aid

• Introduces common mental health challenges for youth

• Reviews typical adolescent development• Teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young

people in both crisis and non-crisis situations • Topics covered include anxiety, depression,

substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)

• Program teaches ordinary citizens how to recognize a mental health emergency and get that person to help they need

• Program can be taught in one (1) hour• Question…a person about suicide• Persuade…the person to get help and,• Refer…the person to the appropriate resource

Signs of Suicide (SOS)

• Focuses on prevention through education by teaching students to identify symptoms of depression, suicidality, and self-injury in themselves and their peers

• Students are taught certain steps to take if they encounter a situation that requires help from a trusted adult

• Length of program depends on the components selected

Signs of Suicide (SOS)

• Contains a validated screening tool to assess students for the signs of depression

• The screening tool is not diagnostic but indicates the presence of symptoms consistent with depression

• Schools are not required to use the screening tool• 40% reduction in suicide attempts in the

randomized controlled study in schools using both the screening and education components